Speech for adult Bat Mitzvah service delivered by Janice Riceberg, March 28, 1981

FIRST ADULT BAT MITZVAH CLASS SERVICE . Saturday Morning, March 28, 1981 - 22 Adar II, 5741 SPEECH DELIVERED BY JANIS RICEBERG It may seen strange to some people that a Bat Mitzvah can take place at an age other than thirteen, The Bible fails to mention either a Bar Mitzvah celebration, or to give any indication that thirteen was considered the demarcation line between the status of a child and that of an adult, In fact, when a particular age is cited in the Bible as a test or requirement for full participation in the community's activities, the age given is twenty, not thirteen, It is essential that one realize that being a Bat Mitzvah is being able to participate in all aspects of its religious expression, being a full-fledged member of the Jewish community, and having re?sponsibility and knowledge of Judaism, It was fifteen months ago that we ladies of the First Bat Mitzvah Class of Temple Beth Sholom pledged to live up to the ideals of our faith and to dedicate ourselves to Judaism, It is our firm conviction that we cannot all be Sara, Ruth or Esther; but we dare not forget that we are still in their tradition, This is where it all began,, ,..tradition, Each one of us has it but we had several other reasons for seeking out the meaning of Judaism in our lives, For whatever the reasons, we knew that knowledge and practice are the essential tools to guid our?selves and our children toward the Judaic path, If we do not have the - 1 - tools how are we to expect our children to have them? Our Hebrew Day School and religious school are not enough Jewish education unless it is practiced in the home, Therefore, the Bat Mitzvah class became that vehicle in which each of us learned the true importance of Judaism in the home and in our everyday lives. We have become morally respon?sible to fulfill our tradition to Judaism. We are like Sara - zealously guiding our young to keep the faith. Some of us are like Rachel - deeply concerned with feeling and helping to rebuild the ancient homeland. Some of us feel like Hannah - who joyfully brought her young Samuel to Shiloh for Service to God - we bring our children for guidance and light to the house of the Lord. We learned the structure of the Sabbath and Festival prayerbook including its methodology such as historical movement, form analysis, content, dialectic effect and quality. We learned that Shabbat is very special and should be observed and remembered as the Sabbath Queen. To welcome the Sabbath - Kabbalat Shabbat is a feeling of togetherness and peace. We learned the significance of the Jewish dietary laws, the Hebrew calendar, laws and customs of Judaism, the Bible, Torah, the books of the Old Testament, all the minor holidays, the similarities and differ?ences between the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish Bibles, the books ?of the Apocrapha, the Mishna and its laws, and all the songs and pray?ers for each service. We read the book "What is a Jew" by Rabbi Morris Kertzer, and exerpts of "The Future of the Jewish Community in America" by David Sidorsky. Each of us was assigned a term paper on a prophet, a holi?day, and to interpret a reading from the Torah, - 2 - The main accomplishment for most of us is learning to read Hebrew, That in itself is a great satisfaction, It was once said by a poet, Chiam Bealik, "Reading Hebrew in translation is like kissing your mother through a veil." Today we can say we have lifted the veil and can now read the Siddur on the right side of the page as well as the left. I can honestly say that the Bat Mitzvah class has enabled us to become a union of our finest and deepest feelings. We have obtained that indefinable trust for one another. We've shared in each other's mitzvahs and sorrows, frustrations and accomplishments, And with that it is said, "Many daughters have done worthily but thou excel lest them all." I would like to add a personal message to our parents and family wherever they might be, We of the Bat Mitzvah Class are here because of a deep interest in learning about Judaism that you. have given us and touched upon us either as a child or an adult. We thank you for giving us that "Jewish feeling" which brought us here today. Our Jewish heritage is like a tree of life and all those who up?hold it are happy, This is our special day, Let us all be happy and celebrate it together. Amen, - 3 -